Procedimentos de colheita dos frutos na qualidade fisiológica de sementes de Sapindus saponaria Mart

Abstract

Using the more appropriate method when harvesting the fruits is the best way to get maximum Sapindus saponaria seeds quality. Seed lots of Sapindus saponaria were harvested according to the following procedures: (1) green fruits attached to the plant, (2) yellow fruits attached to the plant, (3) brown fruits attached to the plant, (4) yellow fruits lying down on the ground, and (5) brown fruits lying down on the ground. In each case the seeds were extracted from the fruits and submitted to the following analyses: water content, germination at the first count (14 days), normal and abnormal seedlings at final count, dormant (hard) seeds at final count, and viable seeds at final count (37 days). Harvesting the fruits from the mother plant while still yellow was found to result in the best quality seeds although breaking seed dormancy was verified to be of necessity.